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This Exploratorium site provides a demonstration using an ordinary bicycle wheel and rotating stool to show how gyroscopes behave. A person sitting on the stool is turned due to a change in the direction of the axis of rotation of the bike wheel. The site provides an explanation of the physics involved including the concepts of the conservation of angular momentum and torque. There is also an extension activity. This activity is part of Exploratorium's Science Snacks series.

Units (1)

This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.

Topic: Dynamics: Forces and MotionUnit Title: Rotational Dynamics

This item is a fun demonstration using an ordinary bicycle wheel and rotating stool to illustrate conservation of angular momentum. A person sits on the stool and spins a bicycle wheel on a hand-made axis. The person twists the spinning wheel, and the rotating stool also begins to turn. The author provides a full explanation of the physics involved.

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